“This leadership gift from KBR is transformational,” said Martha Bidez, Ph.D., founder and director of the ASEM program. “This generous gift will help leverage philanthropic opportunities with other companies and will keep our program on the cutting edge of world-class education. We deeply appreciate receiving this gift.”

The KBR funds will be used to grow the international student enrollment of the ASEM program, which will in turn spread safety best practices farther around the world. The program currently has 103 national and international students enrolled. In May 2012, the program graduated 16 students in its inaugural class, including one who lives and works in Nigeria.

KBR, headquartered in Houston, has locations in the United States, Australia, Africa, the United Kingdom, Asia, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. The company employs 27,000 people, and focuses on the importance of and the relationship between safety, education and worldwide connectivity.

The ASEM program was recently ranked as one of the best online master’s programs by U.S. News & World Report and is the only master’s of engineering degree with a safety emphasis offered wholly online.